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Kerry in London to defuse Ukraine crisis before Sunday vote Kerry in London to defuse Ukraine crisis before Sunday vote
(40 minutes later)
LONDON — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets here today with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in a diplomatic push to stop an intensifying crisis over Russia’s military presence in a southern region of Ukraine. LONDON — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry this morning started talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in a diplomatic push to stop an intensifying crisis over Russia’s military presence in a southern region of Ukraine.
The session was scheduled to begin early in the afternoon London time, and ahead of the meeting Kerry said he hoped to end a standoff that threatens to divide Ukraine and lead the U.S. and Europe to impose economic and other sanctions against Moscow. The session began around 6:30 a.m. Washington time, and ahead of the meeting Kerry said he hoped to end a standoff that threatens to divide Ukraine and lead the U.S. and Europe to impose economic and other sanctions against Moscow.
“I think we’re all hoping that we don’t get pushed into a place where we have to do all this,” Kerry said, referring to the planned sanctions. “But we’ll see what happens.”“I think we’re all hoping that we don’t get pushed into a place where we have to do all this,” Kerry said, referring to the planned sanctions. “But we’ll see what happens.”
The meeting comes 48 hours before a planned referendum in the Crimea region over whether to remain as an autonomous province of Ukraine or to join Russia.The meeting comes 48 hours before a planned referendum in the Crimea region over whether to remain as an autonomous province of Ukraine or to join Russia.
The vote will be held under the eye of Russian troops who effectively took control of the region late last month, after protestors overthrew the Ukrainian government. Crimean regional officials have since voted to secede, and the traditionally pro-Russian population of Crimea is expected to approve the idea as well — if Sunday’s vote proceeds. The vote will be held under the eye of Russian troops who effectively took control of Crimea late last month, after protestors overthrew the Ukrainian government.
In recent days the continued gathering of Russian troops along Ukraine’s border has unnerved the country and left its fledgling government concerned about a deeper Russian military push. On Friday the Russian Interfax news agency reported that a newly announced series of Russian military exercises had expanded to included training missions for fighter jets over the Mediterranean Sea.
The Crimean regional parliament has already voted to leave Ukraine, and the traditionally pro-Russian population of Crimea is expected to approve the idea as well — if Sunday’s vote proceeds.
President Obama and European leaders have demanded the referendum be called off, have said they would not recognize the results, and threatened sanctions and other actions aimed at Russia if the secession plan moves forward.President Obama and European leaders have demanded the referendum be called off, have said they would not recognize the results, and threatened sanctions and other actions aimed at Russia if the secession plan moves forward.
As the diplomats prepared to talk, Russian troops were gathering along Ukraine’s border for exercises that military analysts said were at least an implicit threat. On Friday the Russian Interfax news agency reported that the exercises had expanded to included training missions for fighter jets over the Mediterranean Sea.
Kerry arrived early Friday in London and met immediately with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Among Western European allies, Britain has been among the strongest advocates of a tough line on Ukraine.Kerry arrived early Friday in London and met immediately with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Among Western European allies, Britain has been among the strongest advocates of a tough line on Ukraine.
The United States, Europe and other major nations are seeking a way out of the Crimea crisis, perhaps by encouraging Russia not to go through with annexation after its presumed approval in Sunday’s Russian-backed voting. Kerry was also warning Lavrov against further Russian military moves or threats in other parts of Ukraine.The United States, Europe and other major nations are seeking a way out of the Crimea crisis, perhaps by encouraging Russia not to go through with annexation after its presumed approval in Sunday’s Russian-backed voting. Kerry was also warning Lavrov against further Russian military moves or threats in other parts of Ukraine.
Kerry thanked Cameron on behalf of President Obama “for Europe’s unity and your strong position.”Kerry thanked Cameron on behalf of President Obama “for Europe’s unity and your strong position.”
Both Britain and the United States are expected to approve punitive economic sanctions on Russia on Monday if Sunday’s annexation vote goes ahead with no prospect of compromise.Both Britain and the United States are expected to approve punitive economic sanctions on Russia on Monday if Sunday’s annexation vote goes ahead with no prospect of compromise.
Kept away from No. 10 Downing St., on the opposite side of a busy London road, was a small demonstration by Ukrainian protestors with the country’s blue and yellow flags. They displayed posters asking that “NATO save Ukraine.”Kept away from No. 10 Downing St., on the opposite side of a busy London road, was a small demonstration by Ukrainian protestors with the country’s blue and yellow flags. They displayed posters asking that “NATO save Ukraine.”
“We want to see progress as much as you do,” Cameron told Kerry. “We want to see Ukrainians and the Russians talking to each other. And if they don’t then there are going to have to be consequences.”“We want to see progress as much as you do,” Cameron told Kerry. “We want to see Ukrainians and the Russians talking to each other. And if they don’t then there are going to have to be consequences.”
The United States, Britain and other European nations have tried unsuccessfully for more than a week to begin talks among Russia, the interim Ukrainian government and other nations.The United States, Britain and other European nations have tried unsuccessfully for more than a week to begin talks among Russia, the interim Ukrainian government and other nations.
“I think the alignment of Britain and the European Union with the position that the US is taking is absolutely right. We must keep at them. ““I think the alignment of Britain and the European Union with the position that the US is taking is absolutely right. We must keep at them. “